AFL Draft 2025: All the scouting notes and stats from Allies v Vic Country under-18 clash

Vic Country claimed its first under-18 carnival win on Saturday – and it was a pair of Carlton-aligned draft prospects who led the way. See all the exclusive stats and standouts.

There is hope on the horizon for a struggling Carlton after a pair of talented father-son prospects again shone brightly in a key match at Ikon Park on Saturday.

Midfielder-forward Cody Walker and key defender Harry Dean were both among Vic Country’s best players in a 12-point win over the Allies as the AFL under-18 national championships continued.

Walker — who is one of the top prospects for the 2026 national draft — produced his best game of the championships with 24 disposals and seven marks playing a half-forward role.

The 184cm product from Echuca took some strong overhead marks and nailed dart passes going forward to find teammates on the chest.

The son of former Blues high-flyer Andrew, Walker only celebrated his 17th birthday in January and was one of just three bottom-age players picked in this year’s Vic Country squad.

Dean — who is draft eligible this year — was strong at the other end of the ground as he firms as a potential top-15 pick.

The son of two-time Carlton premiership player Peter, the competitive 193cm backman spent time playing on highly-rated Sydney Swans Academy forwards Max King and Noah Chamberlain and consistently stopped forays forward from the Allies.

He finished the match with 15 disposals, seven intercept possessions and two marks.

Both players had trained with the Blues at Ikon Park during pre-season.

Carlton 2026 father-son prospect Cody Walker impressed for Vic Country against the Allies. Picture: Getty Images

Walker and Dean were not the only club-linked players to impress in the match, with Sydney Swans Academy member Lachlan Carmichael finishing as the leading disposal winner on the ground with 33 touches.

A rebounding halfback who is a beautiful kick, Carmichael used the ball well for the Allies and even pushed forward to slot a long-range goal in final quarter.

Geelong Next Generation Academy member Jesse Mellor was dangerous in attack for Vic Country, finishing with three goals for a second-straight game during the tournament.

Allies captain and Brisbane Lions Academy member Daniel Annable (23 disposals) was solid through the midfield, as were Gold Coast Suns Academy members Koby Coulson (22 disposals) and Dylan Patterson (19 disposals).

Big-bodied Vic Country midfielder Riley Onley (28 disposals) did some nice work around contest in his best game of championships, while potential top-five pick Willem Duursma gathered 19 disposals playing across halfback and powerful key forward Tairon Ah-Mu kicked three lovely goals.

The win was Vic Country’s first in what was its third game of the championships, with a final clash scheduled against Vic Metro at RSEA Park on July 20.

The Allies – who hold a 1-2 record in the tournament – meet Vic Metro in their last match in Brisbane on July 13.

SCOUTING NOTES – ALLIES v VIC COUNTRY

ALLIES

LACHLAN CARMICHAEL

33 disposals, 7 marks, 9 rebound-50s

The Sydney Swans Academy member was the designated kicker across halfback and used the ball well to provide some rebound from defence. He took a lot of the kick-ins and also floated forward to kick a goal of his own from long-range in the final quarter.

TYAN PRINDABLE

18 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 goal

A member of the Brisbane Lions Academy, the hard-at-it midfielder had another good game after coming into the Allies’ side for their second game a week earlier. He brought great intensity around the footy, winning his own ball as well as wrapping up opponents in plenty of tackles. Prindable also snagged a third-quarter goal out of congestion.

DANIEL ANNABLE

23 disposals, 5 clearances, five tackles

The Allies captain and Brisbane Lions Academy member wasn’t quite as prolific as he had been during the side’s first two matches, but still had an impact through the midfield on the back of his great workrate. He did some nice work in clearance situations, provided some run and played a part in many scoring chains.

KOBY COULSON

22 disposals, 7 clearances, 7 tackles

There’s a bit to like about this Gold Coast Suns Academy prospect, who works hard contest-to-contest and possesses clean hands and a nice side step. Coulson isn’t the best kick going around, but the tough midfielder knows how to win the footy at the coalface and applies great pressure on opponents.

Koby Coulson racked up 22 touches for the Allies. Picture: AFL Photos

JACK MILLER

11 disposals, 2 marks, 3 goals

One of Tasmania’s top draft prospects this year, the 181cm small forward was the Allies’ leading goalkicker for the day with three majors. He got over the back of the defence to kick his first goal in the opening quarter, kicked his second from a free kick for holding the ball in the last quarter and then slotted the final goal of the game from a set shot after taking a mark on the lead.

DYLAN PATTERSON

19 disposals, 6 intercept possessions, 1 mark

Usually so classy by foot, Patterson missed the mark a few times and finished with a disposal efficiency of just 57.9 per cent off halfback. That said, the Gold Coast Suns Academy member still had a few good moments, with the smooth-moving speedster opening up the game with his run and carry at times.

KALANI WHITE

11 disposals, 6 marks, 5 intercept possessions

It hasn’t been a huge championships for the Gold Coast Suns Academy member and Melbourne father-son prospect, but he’s shown some signs at times playing as a developing 198cm key defender.

MAX KING

4 disposals, 1 score involvement

A highly-rated Sydney Swans Academy member who has been discussed as a top-10 pick, this was not King’s day at all. He started forward, before being thrown into the midfield in the second half. He showed some wheels and agility at one point, but dropped an easy uncontested mark in the second quarter and got caught holding the ball on a couple of occasions.

VIC COUNTRY

RILEY ONLEY

28 disposals, 7 clearances, 13 score involvements

This 194cm big-bodied midfielder had been a slider on some draft boards in early in the year, but sent a strong reminder of his abilities as Vic Country’s leading disposal winner against the Allies. Onley also logged an equal game-high 13 contested possessions, an equal game-high seven clearances and a game-high 13 score involvements. When he applies himself, he’s a powerful player who can have a big impact on games.

CODY WALKER

24 disposals, 7 marks, 6 score involvements

A bottom-age player who is a Carlton father-son prospect for 2026, Walker had his best game of the championships so far. Playing across half-forward, he presented well, took some nice marks and hit some dart passes by foot. He only scored one behind from two shots on goal, but played a part in some other scoring chains. He’s on track to be a serious player at AFL level.

WILLEM DUURSMA

19 disposals, 5 marks, 5 rebound 50s

A potential top-five pick, Duursma started in defence and stayed there. The 191cm prospect from the Gippsland Power defended well, took some nice intercept marks and mopped up the loose ball on a few occasions. He also used the ball well by foot on the rebound, with 15 or his 19 disposals being kicks and Duursma recording an overall disposal efficiency of 73.7 per cent.

JESSE MELLOR

15 disposals, 5 marks, 3 goals

It’s been a good year for this 185cm forward, who has kicked multiple goals on numerous occasions at different levels. The Geelong Next Generation Academy member now has seven goals from three games for Vic Country, showing himself to be a dangerous match up in attack. Mellor’s contested marking ability stood out in this game, while he also nailed a great goal from a tight angle in the second quarter and applied good forward 50 pressure.

Geelong NGA prospect Jesse Mellor has kicked plenty of goals this year. Picture: AFL Photos

CALLUM SMITH

14 disposals, 2 clearances, 5 tackles

The grandson of Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett, Smith again played onball with some rotations forward. The Dandenong Stingrays product is hard-at-it around the contest and defensively minded. He pounced on the footy and kicked a nice goal on the run in the second term, while he also potentially saved a goal in the same quarter with a great rundown tackle on Koby Coulson in defensive 50.

ZAC HARDING

13 disposals, 30 hitouts, 5 clearances

An overage 199cm ruckman from the Murray Bushrangers who trained with Carlton during pre-season, Harding dominated the ruck battle against the Allies pairing of Isaac Waller and Taj Murray. A real competitor, he logged 30 hitouts to that pair’s 16 combined, while also winning some clearances with some great follow-up work post-ruck contest.

TAIRON AH-MU

11 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals

There’s a little bit of Tom Hawkins about this powerful 198cm forward, who can also pinch-hit in the ruck. Ah-Mu again presented well and showed himself to be hard to beat with his marking in the air. He also kicks the ball beautifully from the set shot – including from distance. His three goals all came in the first half, while there were two behinds recorded from tricky set shots in the second half.

HARRY DEAN

15 disposals, 2 marks, 7 intercept possessions

The Carlton father-son prospect has climbed draft boards with his performances during these championships and was a strong performer again. The 193cm defender spent time on highly-rated Sydney Swans Academy forwards Max King and Noah Chamberlain and didn’t give them an inch. He gives his all, can take a nice intercept mark, gets important spoils in and lays tackles.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2025: All the scouting notes and stats from Allies v Vic Country under-18 clash